Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 1.djvu/413



after slavery had ceased to exist. The Democratic party in Iowa never opposed the extension of slavery and thousands of its former members left the ranks, uniting with the Free Soil movement which organized the Republican party. The National Whig party, in trying to remain neutral, was going to pieces, and the opponents of the extension of slavery were coming together in a new political organization, known as the Republican party.

Early in January, 1856, the following call appeared in many Iowa newspapers:

"To the Citizens of Iowa:

"Believing that a large majority of the people of Iowa are opposed to the introduction of slavery into territory now free, and that the Democratic party is striving to make slavery a national institution, contrary to the principles laid down in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution as taught by the Fathers of the Republic, we call upon all such citizens to meet in convention at Iowa City on the 22d day of February, 1856, for the purpose of organizing a Republican party to make common cause with a similar party already formed in several other States of the Union.

Signed.

"January 3, 1856."

It has been ascertained in late years, that the call which brought this convention together was made in the following manner: Robert Lowry, Hiram Price and Alfred Sanders, of Scott County, united in a letter to Governor Grimes in December, 1855, urging him to prepare a call for a State convention to organize a Republican party in Iowa. The Governor conferred with Samuel McFarland, of Henry County, and a few others. The call was written and sent by them to the Burlington Hawkeye and Mt. Pleasant Journal, which papers published it, and from them it was widely copied throughout the State.

The convention which assembled under this call was large and enthusiastic, and proceeded to organize the Republican party of Iowa. The following resolutions of the platform adopted make a comprehensive statement of the chief purpose of the new party: